Policy Research

Nearly 180,000 Alabamians signed up for 2017 health coverage on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Confusion over the status of ACA coverage after the presidential election may have contributed to the 8.5 percent drop in enrollment from 2016.

Open enrollment for 2017 coverage ended Jan. 31, 2017. But between annual open enrollment periods, uninsured Alabamians may qualify for Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) when they experience certain life-changing events, such as marriage, birth or adoption and loss of coverage through job loss, relocation or divorce. Visit healthcare.gov for more information about SEPs and coverage options on the Marketplace.

The resources below describe how the Marketplace works, other benefits of the Affordable Care Act, how Alabama is addressing health care reform and what lies ahead.

Healthcare.gov -- The Marketplace website is your one-stop hub for new coverage options and other benefits of the ACA.

Tips for tax time and getting enrolled -- This one-page overview looks at the shared responsibility penalty, who may be exempt from it, and how people who owe a penalty for 2014 can avoid owing one again in 2015.